Arvada Press May 9, 2024

2024 Man of the Year: Keith Sorci

President of Arvada Gardeners honored for volunteer work in the community

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Keith Sorci didn’t set out to become Man of the Year; he simply sought to serve the community he’s spent the last 44 years in.

Sorci joined the Arvada Gardeners in 2009, spending nine years serving as president until he stepped down in 2020. During that time, Sorci has overseen growth of

2024 Woman of the Year: Karen Miller

the community garden — which he helped save from becoming developed in 2011.

“At the time, the garden had been in existence for 44 years and it felt as if its future was in danger,” Sorci said. “It took several years, but the garden persevered and its current location appears to be secure, ensuring its future for years to come.

WHY INTERVIEW ME?

Advocate for Arvada’s history, charm finally gets her due

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For many Arvada residents, Karen Miller has been the champion of a number of causes related to preserving the city’s charm and historic identity. To some powerful stakeholders within the city, Miller’s advocacy has made her a consistent thorn in their side. Regardless, Miller now bears one appellation above all: Woman of the Year.

My journey in real estate is not just a career; it is a chronicle of innovation, and foresight. Here are a couple of highlights from my decades of experience that showcase my dedication to staying ahead in the industry:

Joining RE/MAX in its Early Days:

Back in the seventies, I became one of the first agents to join the startup RE/MAX. I immediately saw its potential as the future of real estate and stayed for 34 years and was called a pioneer. Even before joining REMAX, I had already carved out a successful career in the industry. Sadly, the industry changed, and I and other top agents moved on.

Since getting a foothold in the community in 2007 with her purchase of pet store Paws and Play with Laura Wrede, Miller’s impact in Arvada — speci cally in Olde Town and within the city’s business community — has been wideranging.

Miller was elected to the Historic Olde Town Arvada board in 2010 and became the organization’s president in 2011. After Arvada de-

2024 Arvada Man of the Year Keith Sorci. COURTESY PHOTO

2024 Arvada Woman of the Year Karen Miller.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

Biz Beat: Arvada’s Fortress Fine Woodwork

JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Cory Rusch is the epitome of a modern skilled craftsman and business owner. Rusch owns and operates Fortress Fine Woodwork, a three-year-old company in Arvada. At age 30, Rusch has built a bustling business fueled by his handcrafted functional ne art.

“When I talk to clients, I do remind them that, especially if they’re buying a piece of furniture, or even if they’re buying a builtin, this is custom art,” Rusch explained. “It’s legacy furniture, so it’s made to last generations. is is an investment that someone is making, just like if they were to invest in a piece of art itself.”

Rusch started in the woodworking eld in the most nontraditional way. His rst project was building skateboarding stunt supports.

“So even as early as age ve, I was building a lot of things in my life, including skateboard ramps, half pipes in our backyard, all sorts of crazy stu ,” Rusch explained.

SPEAK OUT!

Rusch got some hands-on instruction from his father, who worked in construction.

“And as I got older, I began working with my father doing construction,” he said. “And that’s where I learned how to use construction tools like nail guns, drills, hammers, all the fun stu . And being acquainted with that stu , it really kind of unlocked the possibility of me, potentially woodworking.”

e half pipes and backyard projects were not his rst serious foray into woodworking. Music was that formal introduction for Rusch.

“And then one day I decided that I needed a guitar,” Rusch said. “ at was actually the beginning of my woodworking journey because I learned how to buy special woods and form them into components that were instrument-like.”

pect, including the scroll and the bow itself are considered instruments.”

Rusch explained how precise measurements, nishes and more are needed to make a violin sound like a violin.

“And this taught me how to not only use tools and do nishes, but more importantly, it taught me a level of patience that I had never experienced in my life before,” Rusch said. “For every project since, especially for customers, I’ve been able to utilize that patience and build their projects to the best of my abilities because of this violin.”

Rusch shared that he learned techniques, skills and other info on woodworking largely from YouTube.

“I utilize the information on the internet to the best of my abilities,” Rusch said.

His work ourished right away.

“I started talking with clients in the construction eld. ey started ordering things like built-ins, furniture and all sorts of knickknacks here and there,” Rusch said. “Over time, I developed Fortress Fine Woodworks. Two years ago, we got this warehouse so that I could develop much larger scale projects.” e young woodworker’s shop is in an industrial space in Arvada, near Old Towne. e small lobby showcases a table that Rusch built and a sign with the Fortress logo. e space includes an o ce where his wife helps with the business side of things. en, there is the workshop. e room is lled with every piece of heavy machinery needed to create any project on Rusch’s purchase orders. is includes re nishing projects and repairs.

Rusch said learning the skills needed to create an instrument were the exact skills that he would later use in building, re nishing and repairing ne furniture.

“ e amount of detail that goes into instruments, it’s considerable,” Rusch said, as he demonstrated on a violin that he created right there in the shop. “A violin is hand carved, basically every as-

“ ere’s also projects that I do where I’m re nishing something that someone already has,” Rusch said, showing o an antique table that he was working on. “I would consider the table an antique, but let’s just call it older. I re nished it. e nish that’s put on it now is a little bit more modern. And it’ll hold up to the test of time a little bit better than the old nish that was on it.”

Cory Rusch, owner of Fortress Fine Woodworks, is seen here installing an accent wall and TV center. Rusch consults with each client to design the furniture piece. Rusch handles the entire project from design to installation on his own.

Zillow Rolls Out a Home ‘Touring Agreement’ That Doesn’t Comply With Colorado Law

Ever since the March 15th announcement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that it had reached a settlement on the massive litigation against it regarding buyer agent commissions, brokers and brokerages have been trying to figure out how they can get buyers to sign an agreement of the type required by that settlement.

Such an agreement would have to provide for payment by buyers of the broker working on their behalf, and that agreement would have to be signed before an agent could show the buyer any homes for sale.

with whom I shared Zillow’s agreement last week.

First, since it has not been approved by the Colorado Real Estate Commission (CREC), Zillow’s form can only be used by brokers if it has been prepared by that broker’s own lawyer. Second, it does not contain the required definitions of working relationships.

I asked Waters what new or changed contracts the Division is working on to comply with the provisions of the NAR settlement, and she replied as follows:

Zillow, which is now a brokerage, not merely a real estate listing site, thinks it has produced an agreement which satisfies that requirement and that buyers would be happy to sign. The essence of it is that it is non-exclusive, lasts only seven days, and does not commit the buyer to paying anything.

Although the “Touring Agreement” is copyrighted, the April 30th blog post by Zillow’s Chief Industry Development Officer, Errol Samuelson, states that “we’re making it available for use to the entire residential real estate industry.”

Above right I have reproduced the one-page agreement, omitting only the non-discrimination clause and the signature lines.

In the blog post, Samuelson acknowledged that “the form of this agreement will vary by state, [but] we’re calling on the industry to adopt a non-exclusive, limited-duration agreement for the initial tours conducted by an agent with a prospective buyer.”

Indeed the form does not comply with Colorado state law in two respects, according to Marcia Waters, who heads the Division of Real Estate at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs,

“It is our position that the NAR settlement doesn't require any changes to our forms. With that said, the Forms Committee is working on some possible revisions to the listing contracts, the contract to buy and sell and the brokerage disclosure to buyer to provide further clarification about compensation. Those revisions will be considered by the Real Estate Commission at their nonrulemaking hearing for the forms in June.” That meeting is at 9 a.m. on June 4th. The requirements established by the NAR settlement are now set to take effect on August 17th.

I like the concept of Zillow’s proposed touring agreement, since the NAR settlement only specifies “an agreement.” Having sent it to the Division of Real Estate and also to Frascona, Joiner, Goodman & Greenstein, PC, the law firm which serves Golden Real Estate and hundreds of other brokerages with legal forms not among those mandated by the CREC, I’m hopeful that one or the other of them will produce a “showing agreement” that we can use.

Without such an document agreeable to buyers, we can expect that buyers will only call listing agents to see listed homes. That scenario would serve neither the industry nor the public.

NAR Releases Additional Rules Pursuant to Settlement

Heretofore, the only guidance brokers had regarding the NAR settlement was that the MLS could no longer display an offer of co-op compensation for listings and that brokers could not show listings to a buyer with first executing a written agreement with that buyer. Last week we were advised of some additional rules that the MLSs need to follow. Here are the key takeaways. MLSs may not “create, facilitate, or support any non-MLS mechanism (including by providing listing information to an internet aggregator’s website for such purpose)” that includes “offers of compensation to buyer brokers or other

buyer representatives.”

MLS data may not be used “directly or indirectly” to create a platform containing offer of compensation, and, if that is done, the MLS must terminate the access to the MLS and MLS data by the offending broker or brokerage. Virtually every brokerage has its own website on which MLS listings are displayed. These websites must not, with or without MLS support, filter the display of listings to exclude individual listings based on the level of compensation offered or to exclude listings by specific brokerages or specific listing agents within a brokerage.

New Homes Can Have Inspection Issues, Too

This will be a good year, I believe, for the developers and builders of new homes. There’s a decent supply, you can choose between spec homes that are already built, or design a home to your specifications if you are not in a rush.

You won’t have to deal with bidding wars, but you also won’t be able to negotiate a price reduction. It’s “list price only” with builders.

Also, you can hire a buyer’s agent, such as my broker associates or me, who will be paid by the builder, so you don’t have to pay for professional representation. Too many buyers of new homes end up regretting that they bought from a builder’s salesperson and didn’t have a professional on their side. The builder’s agent is working for the builder and not in your best interest.

Another mistake buyers make is to think that because a home is new, it doesn’t need to be inspected. You abso-

lutely must invest in the cost of a professional home inspector. We have an inspector on our team, Jim Camp, who has decades of experience inspecting new homes for buyers. We recommend him exclusively. New construction is permitted and must pass county or city inspection, but, based on the kinds of defects that Jim has found in new homes, we worry that these inspections can be too cursory. Jim likes to do a 2-phase inspection. The first inspection would be at the rough-in or pre-drywall stage, and the second or final inspection would be prior to the buyer’s final walk-through with the builder.

As when buying an existing home, money spent on inspections is money well spent, because you might uncover hidden defects, from sewer to attic, that could cost you much more later on. Call me with your questions.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428

“Concentrate on giving and the getting will take care of itself.” —Anonymous

funded HOTA in 2012, Miller helped form the city’s Olde Town Business Improvement District in 2014.

In 2017, Miller joined the Arvada Historical Society Board and served as the organization’s president for a two-year term from 2021 to 2023. Miller sold Paws and Play in 2017 but has remained a xture in the community. To this day, she remains on the HOTA board, the Friends of the .04 Trolley board, the Association of Northern Front Range Museums board and continues to serve on the Historical Society’s board. “ ere’s always a need and I like to create,” Miller said of what draws her to nonpro t work. “I always consider myself to be a transitional person. I’ll take what’s broke and try to x it or make it better and give it to the next person. at’s what I tried to do with

HOTA by creating the BID and I think that’s what I did with the Historical Society and (Current President) Judith (Denham) will continue.

“We’re all just running legs of a relay race, so you try to make up time for the next person,” Miller continued.

Before becoming a business owner in the community, Miller — a Lakewood resident — was mostly unfamiliar with Arvada. It was the tightknit feel of the city, especially in Olde Town, that hooked her.

“When we came in 2007, it was more of a community,” Miller said.

“Of course, it wasn’t as busy and it was still more hobby-type businesses, rather than, you know, ‘I’m building my empire’ type businesses. And it was more women (business owners) than men. And, you know, we called it Mayberry. We just cared about each other.”

But Miller’s time in Arvada hasn’t all been smooth sailing. In addition to widespread growth and changing

demographics, Miller’s been entangled in “petty politics” with the City of Arvada on more than one occasion.

e rst such incident occurred when HOTA was defunded by the city. Many expected the organization to fold, but Miller was unwilling to give in. She went to a city council meeting with fellow business owner Lori Drienka and told stakeholders she had no plans to back down.

“We spoke at city council and said, ‘HOTA’s not dead, we’re not throwing in the towel just because you took our money away,’” Miller said. “And we intend to continue as long as merchants want something going on down here.

“And I got up and spoke and I said, ‘I’m going to work on getting us a business improvement district,’” Miller continued.

Two previous attempts to form a BID in Olde Town had failed by the time Miller made her attempt. One previous attempt had ended in a lengthy court battle, and Miller said the city was reticent to try again.

Drienka, who worked with Miller to create the organization, credited Miller’s honesty for nally getting the historic district a successful BID.

“ e BID being formed, I believe, is all to Karen’s credit, because there had been several attempts in the past to get that done, and Karen actually made it happen,” Drienka said. “I believe that her honesty and integrity and professionalism is what has bettered this community.

“And although the world may not be ready for her kind of honesty, I believe it’s important to be able to move things forward,” Drienka continued.

After things with the BID and HOTA settled down a little bit, Miller changed gears and began working with the Arvada Historical Society at the recommendation of her friend Nancy Young, one of Arvada’s foremost historians in her day.

Miller said that early days at the society were spent bettering the organization’s structure.

“ e reason I joined this board was this society has always run kinda like a club; like a social club,” Miller said. “And Arvada, it was a very small town, when (the society’s members) grew up. And it’s like, you still have to run it like a business. I said, ‘Well, if you run the organization better, you can do history better. History is your product.’

“But you have to have a good organization,” Miller continued. “So, we

just kind of quietly tried to change things and turn things around. Nancy was my other half. And we worked really hard to try to get things turned around.”

Miller oversaw a number of projects during her time as president of the Historical Society — she served a two-year term in that role, as is customary within the organization. For the organization’s 50th anniversary, Miller worked to getcity council recognitions, stories in the Press, and a social media footprint that all contributed to raising the society’s prole in town.

e organization gained 60 new members in 2022.

en Young passed away that November. Miller’s responsibilities within the organization grew, and soon it became time for a new president to take the reins. Denham assumed the role but credits Miler for getting the organization on stable footing.

“Karen has been very steadfast and very businesslike and very knowledgeable about how to hold that organization together, and to solve the problems that were occurring at that time,” Denham said. “Since I’ve been on the board for a couple of years, she has helped guide us to a more stable situation, a situation where we can look at our long term perspective where we can do some strategic planning, where we can build a board that’s a governance board with operations that really serve the community to get our mission out there.”

Miller is now the manager of the Arvada Flour Mill and spent a year cleaning up the mill so that it could be suitable for school tours once more. Now, she’s working with an advisory committee to put together a master plan for the mill that will bring myriad of changes to the historic site, including having the capacity to host events.

Miller said that what draws her to historic preservation work is the importance of history to the Arvada community.

“ is is de nitely a unique place,” Miller said. “Now being in the Historical Society board, the history is so important to this community. It might sound like an old lady talking about things, but the history is inside this community. it is the personality of this community is driven by it, how we act, the protests; it’s all repetitive from day one.

Bill to ban seclusion in Colorado schools defeated

BY MELANIE ASMAR CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Despite testimony that one Colorado lawmaker called “horrifying,” a bill to ban the practice of shutting students alone inside rooms was defeated at the state Capitol.

State Rep. Regina English, a Colorado Springs Democrat and the main sponsor of House Bill 1167, asked last week that her fellow lawmakers postpone the bill inde nitely, e ectively defeating it.

With just days left in this year’s legislative session, English said the bill was experiencing too much last-minute pushback from defenders of the practice known as seclusion.

ough English didn’t name names, a handful of school district and special education administrators had defended the practice to lawmakers in a hearing last month.

e administrators described seclusion as a “last resort” measure that is sometimes necessary.

English pledged to introduce a new bill banning seclusion next year.

“It is my mission to make sure Colorado is the ninth state in the nation to ban this horri c practice used against our students,” she told the House Education Committee in April.

e committee voted unanimously to defeat the bill. Several lawmakers said they were voting against the bill reluctantly and only at the sponsor’s request. ey praised English for her courage and said they agreed that seclusion is wrong.

“ e testimony we heard was horrifying,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, a Durango Democrat and chair of the House Education Committee. Seclusion, she said, “shouldn’t ever be happening.”

Under current law, Colorado

schools are allowed to seclude students in rooms with the door closed. Sta must monitor students through a window or by video camera. Seclusion rooms must be “free of injurious items” and cannot otherwise be used for storage, custodial, or o ce space.

Students are often placed in seclusion because of their behavior. Available state data shows that young students with disabilities are disproportionately secluded.

English said a case at a popular Denver middle school called McAuli e International School spurred her to sponsor the bill. An investigation by Denver Public Schools found that McAuli e sta were placing students in seclusion without proper supervision. A former Denver school board member told lawmakers that the seclusion room at McAuli e “reminded me of a prison.”

e former board member,

Auon’tai Anderson, was among the parents and elected o cials who testi ed last month in favor of the bill to ban seclusion. e most emotional testimony came from mothers who said their children with disabilities had been secluded.

e mothers spoke about how their children soiled themselves inside seclusion rooms because they were so scared and how, even years later, their kids had nightmares and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Parents said they were unaware their children were being secluded, in part because the schools didn’t use the word seclusion. Instead, schools referred to the rooms in which their children were shut inside by innocuous names like “the relaxation room” and “the opportunity room.”

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

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FROM PAGE 4

“And the history here is the charm that makes Arvada special,” she continued.

However, turnover in the business community, on the city team, on city council, and in other areas have measurably changed things in Arvada, Miller asserted.

“If you’re going to keep tearing down houses and putting up ugly buildings, what’s going to happen?” Miller asked rhetorically.

Miller called the creation of the BID her proudest accomplishment but noted that she still works to put on the longtime communityoriented events the BID dropped

SORCI

FROM PAGE 1

“ is was not an individual effort but involved the collaboration of a large group of committed people,” he continued.

Bill Orchard, also a member of the Arvada Gardeners, credits Sorci for a number of growth areas within the organization during his term.

“During his ‘reign,’ the community garden saw extensive growth and innovation, everything from the barn, gazebo and greenhouse additions to educational presentations, grant opportunities and community partnerships,” Orchard said. “It is wonderful to see Keith receive community recognition for all these achievements.”

due to nancial concerns through HOTA, including the Scarecrow Festival, A Chocolate A air and Lagniappe.

“( e creation of the BID) that would probably be recognized as my biggest accomplishment,” Miller said. Because it was thought that it could never be done. And (the city team members) were afraid to try.”

Miller does not seem to fear losing — though her remarkable persistence and honesty have kept her on the winning side of the ledger more times than not.

“I always, always favored the underdog,” Miller said.

In picking Miller for Woman of the Year, the Chamber of Commerce proved it’s willing to do the same.

tunities for adventure and entertainment. It was and still is a great place to raise a family.”

Sorci credited the Chamber of Commerce for highlighting those in the community who have made impactful contributions.

“Arvada has pride and that is reected in part in the fact that the Arvada Chamber of Commerce has for years focused on individuals who have made a di erence,” Sorci said.

Sorci said he did not expect to win Man of the Year, as he does not like the limelight. Despite that, he said he was glad to have earned the esteem of his fellow community members.

In addition to his work with the Gardeners, Sorci is a former volunteer with the Arvada Historical Society and works for the Je erson County Justice System, where he trains crews to be polite and helpful as they do volunteer work around the community.

Sorci and his family moved from Arizona to Colorado 46 years ago and have resided in Arvada since 1980.

“Arvada has that small-town feel and that is a good thing that should be embraced,” Sorci said. “I hope that never changes. It’s in a beautiful area, surrounded by history and o ers many oppor-

“Years ago, a well-respected supervisor of mine told me that you may never know the positive impact you have had, the people you may have helped and the di erence you may have made,” Sorci said. “In my mind, there is no better accomplishment than to earn the respect of your peers. I am honored that I was chosen as Man of the Year.”

Outside of continuing his volunteer work, Sorci said that next on his docket is to gure out the story behind a mysterious building near his house.

“I would like to gure out the mystery of a nearby but unidentied structure that my friends and I call the Well House,” Sorci said. “Who built it, what was it used for and how it served and shaped the community.”

This table was in pieces on Cory Rusch’s immense worktable at Fortress Fine Woodwork. Rusch said that the tabletop is made of Bolivian rosewood with inlays. The inlay design is created so that an infinite number of leaves can be added to make the table longer.

BIZ BEAT

ose old skills learned making instruments come in handy with the re nishing projects, according to Rusch. “

at’s really where the violin and guitar have come in, the nishing processes that I learned from doing these di erent projects. It takes di erent skills to be able to do these things like this.” He spoke, pointing out the nishes on di erent projects, Rusch explained how he is able to produce a higher quality of work for his clients because of his nishing skills.

e skilled craftsman also o ered advice to others looking to turn a woodworking hobby into a business.

“I would honestly tell them to start small rst because woodworking needs to be able to be learned in a

Cory Rusch is pictured building a piece of furniture at Fortress Fine Woodworks. Rusch expanded to his Arvada factory space after years of teaching himself the art of woodworking. He does all the manufacturing, delivery and installation alone.

reasonably small space so that you don’t have so much overhead and responsibility,” Rusch said. “I think a small garage or even a shed is a perfect place to start. And there’s a lot of economic tools that you can buy these days to accomplish things. And you can build some amazing stu with minimal tools.”

Rusch encourages those artisans to study building a business before buying a warehouse. He took years before making the leap and encourages others to do the same.

“But as far as growing a business to this size, it is de nitely more so for companies that want to produce large projects for clients,” Rusch said about the demand for ne woodwork.

e U.S. is actually going to need more workers like Rusch in the coming years. Accordingto the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pool of skilled woodworkers is needed to replace the growing number of retiring craftsmen

through 2032.

Check out Rusch at work on his YouTube channel Fortress Fine Woodworks. For more information go to FortressFineWoodworks.com.

Meet Rex!

Rex (293602) is a 15-year-old male cat. This handsome older guy loves petting and will purr up a storm when his chin and neck are rubbed. Relaxed Rex likes the simple things in life: yummy treats, a window to watch over the neighborhood, and

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The finish accent wall and tv center. Rusch handles the entire project in his own one-man process from design to installation. PHOTOS COURTESY FORTRESS FINE WOODWORKS

Man who worked in Je erson County schools arrested for child sexual assault

Arvada Police arrest daycare provider; Je co Schools say suspect’s employment is being terminated

BY RYLEE DUNN

A man who worked as a before and after-school care provider and occasional substitute teacher in Je erson County Schools was arrested by Arvada Police and charged with sexual assault and child abuse.

Justin Joshua Martinez, 31, has been charged with felony sexual assault on a child, two counts of

misdemeanor child abuse and felony sexual assault against a victim under the age of 15.

Martinez was arrested by Arvada Police on May 1 and is now awaiting formal charges at the Je erson County Jail. APD spokesperson Dave Snelling said the department received the initial complaint in the case on April 22.

Since 2011, Martinez was employed at Lawrence Elementary, Swanson Elementary, Secrest Elementary and West Woods Elementary in Arvada; Vivian Elementary in Lakewood and Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge. He most recently worked in the before and after school program at Red Rocks Elementary in Morrison.

A spokesperson for Je erson County Public Schools said Mar-

BATHROOM REMODELING DONE

tinez was hired by Red Rocks Elementary on Feb. 12 and was placed on administrative leave “immediately after the district was noti ed regarding a criminal investigation.

“ e process to terminate his employment with Je co Public Schools is in progress,” the spokesperson said.

e before and after-school programs Martinez previously worked for were operated by Kids Adventures and STARS Kid Care.

A Colorado Bureau of Investigation background check showed no prior o enses committed by Martinez before his May 1 arrest. Arvada Police said the investigation is ongoing and declined to give further comment or details about the case.

Martinez

COURTESY ARVADA POLICE

5 takeaways from the League of Women Voters Je erson County’s annual meeting

The League of Women Voters in Je erson County has a mission to protect democracy and the integrity of voting in the U.S. This statement in the photo is emblazoned on their website.

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Members of the League of Women Voters of Je erson County met on April 23 for their annual meeting. e theme was “Safeguarding Gold Standard Elections.” Amanda Gonzalez, Je co’s Clerk and Recorder was the keynote speaker. Her speech o ered more information on the elections for the year.

Here are ve interesting facts that came out of the meeting that Je erson County voters should know.

1. The Je co League of Women Voters is a group of volunteers.

Everyone in the room volunteers their time for not only the meetings but also observing legislative processes important to voting, according to the LWV president Christina Manthey.

“We do this through volunteering for the league observer corps program if each of us chooses to attend a governing body meeting regularly,” Manthey said.

2. The league is bipartisan and contains male members.

A few of the women were there with their husbands, who were also part of the membership.

LWV secretary Jane Cates told a story about two members who had a

COURTESY LWV JEFFERSON COUNTY

erce debate during a meeting. e members were from di erent sides of an issue that the members were trying to nd consensus on. She described the debate and the uproar in the room.

“ en, I was shocked when the members left the meeting,” Cates said. “One of the two women who were openly, verbally sparring just moments ago, turned to the other, her sparring partner, and asked, ‘Where are we going to lunch today?’”

Despite their opposing views, the members all come together in the interest of protecting voter integrity, Cates said.

3. The league does not have a program for 2024.

According to the league’s Je co Action chair, Deb Gard, the group will not have a program for the year, in order to concentrate on elections for the year.

“Our job this year is to safeguard our elections,” Gard said. She went on to explain that the focus is on safeguarding the vote. is includes “educating voters in Je erson County concerning the accuracy and fairness of our elections is essential, especially this year when the quality and status of elections is being questioned everywhere.”

Founder of Arvada nonprofit speaking in metro area to raise awareness about orphans in South Sudan

Seeds of South Sudan helps refugee childrengain education with goal of rebuilding their native country

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An Arvada-based nonpro t with board members from throughout the metro area aims to help rebuild the world’s newest — and one of

its poorest — countries. Seeds of South Sudan helps relocate and educate orphans who face an otherwise bleak future, with the intention that the children return to help rebuild their home country.

“Without help from an organization like ours, these children are stuck in a refugee camp,” said Arvada resident Jill Flateland, a Seeds volunteer who sponsors children with her husband Byron. “Education is key for allowing them to actually have a life. We o er them an opportunity to become educated,

with the goal of giving back to their home country — to be the seeds of South Sudan.”

Group founder Arok Garang, who was one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, will be speaking about his life’s work at several metro area churches in June. As a young man, the United Nations helped Garang move to Colorado from a refugee camp, where he earned an economics degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. He now lives primarily in Kenya, where he oversees a boarding house in which Seeds’ students live.

South Sudan, which has been independent from Sudan since 2011, is recovering from decades of civil war. Complicating its recovery, it faces ongoing issues with Sudan over oil revenues and land borders, and ghting between government forces and rebel groups.

Each year, Seeds sponsors several South Sudanese orphans from among thousands at the refugee camp. ey then live in the boarding house and attend school.

Seeds’ sponsors pay $150 a month, which covers the cost for a student’s education, lodging, food, clothing and medical expenses. In exchange, they can track their student’s progress, and communicate via letters and Zoom.

Conifer resident and Seeds board member Eileen Steeg learned about the organization in 2023 and sponsored two children who were living in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp with 150,000 other refugees.

“I realized this was the most meaningful opportunity that had crossed my path since I had retired from teaching in 2018,” she said. “Americans spend so much money per month on fast food and co ee and for a relatively small amount of $150 a month, I could impact and basically save a life. It was an amazing feeling.

“Some of our kids have gone on to university and are in the process of becoming doctors and lawyers,” she added. “We have one young man who is graduating this December with his medical degree. Just imagine if he had stayed in the camp!”

Seeds of South Sudan is closely a liated with Arvada Covenant Church, where volunteers helped Garang form the nonpro t in 2011. Its board includes volunteers from Conifer, Denver, Littleton, ornton, Westminster and Arvada.

e con icts and disease have separated families and fed a constant wave of misplaced children, many of whom arrive at refugee camps malnourished, traumatized and alone. eir trials don’t end there; malnutrition and disease are ongoing issues in the Kakuma Refugee Camp, according to Seeds website, and educational and economic opportunities are limited.

“Inside this small city at the edge of the desert, children age into adulthood and hope fades to resignation,” the site says.

“ e bottom line is, they don’t get out of the refugee camp unless they get sponsored,” said Seeds’ board member and Arvada resident Jeri Lou Maus, who also sponsors a child.

rough Seeds, 159 children have received an education or are now attending school in Kenya. Sixtyve have graduated high school and more than 20 are attending college in Kenya.

ousands more remain in the refugee camp.

“No matter how many you sponsor, it’s never enough,” board vice president Byron Flateland said.

LEARN MORE

Seeds of South Sudan founder Arok Garang will speak about the program he founded at several metro area churches in June. There is no cost to attend.

June 9, 10 a.m. – Montview Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St., Denver June 16, 10 a.m. - Arvada Covenant Church, 5555 Ward Road, Arvada June 23, 10 a.m. – First United Church of Arvada, 7195 Simms St., Arvada June 30, 10:30 a.m. – St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 9203 S University Blvd., Highlands Ranch

Je co GOP cancels South Dakota Gov. Noem fundraising appearance over ‘safety concerns’

Noem facing public criticism for killing her unruly dog

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

e Je erson County Republican Party canceled a fundraiser scheduled for May 4 with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Noem has faced extensive criticism this week for her account of shooting an unruly dog, a detail included in her forthcoming book, according to e Guardian. However, the county GOP stated that “safety concerns” led to the cancelation of the event because protesters were expected to

show up.

Noem was set to headline the county GOP’s fundraiser at the Marriott Denver West hotel.

In a May 3 statement, Je co GOP Chair Nancy Pallozzi described inviting Noem to the fundraiser in January and receiving con rmation in early April. Pallozzi said she didn’t know the contents of the forthcoming book, and her organization “is not taking a position on the public outcry” surrounding it.

However, once the story broke nationwide, she said the county GOP received numerous threats.

Yesterday, the parties involved in the event mutually agreed to cancel the appearance to protect the safety of all involved, Pallozzi said.

“It is very sad that standing up and expressing our First Amendment rights in this current political culture has brought us to this point,” she continued.

Pallozzi thanked all those who bought tickets to the fundraisers, saying the organization will plan another fundraising event in the near future. e dog, which Noem shot and reportedly described as a working dog, was 14 months old. According to NBC News, Noem has defended her decision, claiming it had “massacred” a neighbor’s livestock, and she considered it a risk to her family’s safety.

Noem is reportedly on former President Donald Trump’s shortlist for running mate in this November’s election. She was elected South Da-

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem

Hearing the name “ e Full Monty” probably conjures up a very speci c set of images for most people. Namely, six men whom you wouldn’t think of as strippers doing just that. And to be honest, it’s not like the story isn’t about that.

But as Nick Sugar, director of the musical version at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, explains it, stripping is by no means the only thing the show is about.

VOICES

Miners Alley Shows ‘The Full Monty’

COMING ATTRACTIONS

“ ere are several journeys going on in this show — not just the men, but the women who have been there alongside them the whole time,” he said. “People are going to show up expecting one thing and they’re going to leave saying, ‘I didn’t see that coming.’”

“It really does touch on a lot of social issues in a sneaky way,” added David Nehls, music director. “It deals with the way see ourselves as men, homophobia, misogyny and body image.”

“ e Full Monty” runs at Miners Alley, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, through Sunday, June 2. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. ursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. e show is rated R and recommended for audiences 18-years-old and older.

Based on the 1997 British lm, this musical version has been Americanized and takes place in Bu alo, New York. It follows six unemployed steelworkers who need to make

some money fast, so they decide to put on a one-nightonly strip show. e cast includes Rory Pierce, Annie Dwyer, Alejandro Roldan and Kelly Alayne Dwyer. e show is the rst musical in Miners Alley’s new location and it’s the perfect place for this show, which features live musicians playing all the music written by David Yazbek.

“ ere are live, professional musicians playing what audiences are hearing and these guys work so hard,” Sugar said. “It takes a village to put a production like this on and everyone has come through to gure out how to best do this on the new stage. We just couldn’t do the show with the integrity the script calls for in the old space.”

e musical numbers might be the show-stoppers, but the book, written by Terrence McNally, gives every character a true personality of their own and allows them to grow as the show unfolds.

“It’s great seeing people come together in adverse situations, which is something we can all relate to now,” Nehls said. “I think the stage show has more heart than the lm.”

Get tickets for the musical at https://minersalley.com/shows/

Afew years ago, I turned a carport into a bedroom. But rst I had to empty out the books, papers, furniture, rugs and tools that were in the carport. en I took it all to a storage unit where rent was $50 a month. After three years of thinking about it, and only occasionally pawing through the storage unit for a lost item, I nally sorted out a handful of books and items that meant something — I could have t them in a suitcase! — and held a yard sale for

the-full-monty/.

Arvada director hosts Colorado Film Premiere

Arvada resident Christopher Fitzpatrick, the director, editor and producer of the independent music documentary “Oklahoma Breakdown,” is hosting the Colorado premiere of the documentary at the Landmark Mayan eatre, 110 N. Broadway in Denver. e event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on ursday, May 16, followed by a concert by Mike Hosty, the lm’s subject, at the Skylark Lounge, 140 S. Broadway. Fitzpatrick will also participate in a Q&A session after the movie.

According to provided information, Hosty “is a one-man band freak of nature who also tells jokes.” e lm delves into who the musician is and why he’s content out of the spotlight. It has won numerous lm festival awards since its premiere in 2022. is should be a fascinating evening, so buy tickets at www.eventbrite.com.

Moms get the last laugh at Schoolhouse Theater

We’re all in pretty dire need of laughs these days, but moms especially could use a break and some hilarity in their lives. To that end, the Schoolhouse eater, 19650 Mainstreet in Parker, is hosting the Moms Unhinged Standup Comedy Show at 7 p.m. on ursday, May 16. e show will feature sets on a vari-

How did so much stu pile up?

WRITERS ON THE RANGE

the rest.

towns and suburbs across the West.

ety of topics, including motherhood, midlife crises, marriage, divorce and online dating. e performers will be Lisa Lane, Ashley N-g, Stacy Pederson and headliner Janae Burris. is will be a hilarious night for all (yes, men are welcome to attend) as each performer brings their own perspective and humor to the stage.

Buy tickets at https://parkerarts. org/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Gary Clark Jr. at Red Rocks

When Texas’ Gary Clark Jr.  rst arrived on the music scene in the early 2010s, he was heralded as the savior of the blues guitar, a modern-day scion of Jimi Hendrix. And while it’s clear that Clark Jr. will always have an a ection for the blues, his latest album, “JPEG Raw,” shows how wideranging his interests are. ere’s funk, hip-hop, R&B and classic rock all blended together in a heady brew only he could produce.

In support of the album, Clark Jr. will be performing at Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13. He’ll be joined by the absolute powerhouse legend that is Mavis Staples. is promises to be a great night of live music, so get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

I think about that when I see storage facilities spreading and expanding across the country. At least 500 units have been built here in eastern Oregon’s Wallowa County, population 7,500, and storage businesses can be found in

A local entrepreneur who owns about half the local units is now building in regional towns as well: Concrete slabs with metal buildings on top, single light bulbs inside, no plumbing.

I’m past 80 now, and although my house is small, I have held onto a lot of stu . In the normal course of events, my children would inherit it.

But my two children and their families live in Arizona and Guam, busy building their own invento-

ries of stu . In a previous age, when there was a family house and three or more children to a house, the house and its basic furnishings would go to one child, and the remaining children would parcel out anything else.

In my nuclear family, it worked like this: Mom passed on, and no one wanted or needed the house, so Dad called a summit meeting as he prepared to go into assisted living.

Clarke Reader

Springtime adventures: Family-friendly activities to embrace the season

As the chill of winter fades away, and nature bursts into bloom, spring o ers a wonderful opportunity for families to reconnect and create lasting memories together. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventures or indoor escapades, there’s something magical about this season that beckons us to explore. Here are some of our favorite fun family-

BOECK

My beloved husband Wade passed away suddenly on March 29, 2024. He was born on March 19, 1965, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado to Dean and Patricia Boeck and he passed away just 10 days after his 59th birthday in Azle, Texas. We were just a few weeks shy of our 27th wedding anniversary on May 24.

LIFE BALANCED

Megan Trask and Cody Galloway

Wade Richard Boeck March 19, 1965 - March 29, 2024

Wade was an amazing man and a rare breed in that what you saw was truly what you got. He refused to embellish himself or his experiences. He was the most decent human being that I’ve ever known, and he made me want to be a better person every day of my life from the day we rst met in 1994. He treated everyone he knew with the utmost respect at all times, he never said a bad word about anyone to anyone and throughout his life you will not nd a soul who didn’t love and respect him deeply.

He was a talented Civil Engineer with emphasis on highway structures and bridges. He went to work for Caltrans in Southern California after he graduated from Colorado State University and was instrumental in the emergency design of both temporary and permanent structures following the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which resulted in the timely reconstruction of several heavily traveled highway bridges across Southern California.

He was the Caltrans Resident Engineer who along with CC Meyers, was responsible for the successful early completion of the high-pro le emergency contract to replace a washed out 100-foot section of the Interstate-5 double-span bridge over the raging Arroyo Pasajero creek in Coalinga, CA which shut down a 200-mile section of I-5 in March of 1995 during catastrophic ooding.

Wade went to work for the private sector in 1997. He was keenly aware that he was forgoing retirement with a comfortable pension but with my full support he sought and succeeded in freeing himself from the unending restrictions and red tape he found within the public sector. He worked as a

friendly activities that you can adapt for all ages to embrace the joys of springtime.

Picnics in the park: Spring is the perfect time to pack a picnic bas-

Construction Manager and Structure Rep for Stimpel-Wiebelhhaus Associates in Redding, California from 1997-2008 when the collapse of the US economy forced SWA to lay o their entire workforce.

From 2009 until his passing, Wade worked as a Construction Management Consultant, Resident Engineer and Structures Rep for Mendoza & Associates, Jacobs and Bowman Engineering Consultants.

Wade loved sports but was most passionate about football and was a lifelong Broncos fan. He participated in the same fantasy football league for more than 25 years with a close group of friends from grade school. We were blessed to be able to attend many NFL games together, visiting Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), Reliant Stadium (Houston), AT&T Stadium (Arlington), Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego), Qwest Field (Seattle), Candlestick Park (San Fran), and Lambeau Field (Green Bay) twice. And before we met, he had a blast with friends in New Orleans at the Superdome for Super Bowl XXIV in 1990, despite the Broncos loss.

Wade was preceded in death by his mother, Pat. He is survived by his loving wife Laurel, his father Dean and stepmom Joyce, his sister Brenda, nieces Margo and Grace and nephew Nate, as well as many other family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Community in Christ Church from 1pm4pm on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at 12229 W 80th Ave, Arvada, CO 80005. Friends and family are invited to attend.

In lieu of owers, please donate in Wade’s name to your favorite dog rescue or shelter. ere was not a better, more loving, more patient doggy dad on this earth than Wade. ere are some people in life that make you LAUGH a little louder, SMILE a little brighter and LIVE a little better. Wade was one of those people, without question, and he will be missed always by everyone that was blessed to have known him.

ket and head outdoors. Find a local park (we are lucky to have more than 300 in and around Denver) with sprawling greenery, blooming owers and maybe even a playground. Let the kids run around, play games, throw a football, y kites and enjoy a leisurely meal amidst nature’s beauty. We also love a good food truck night at the park and are seeing more and more of these pop up.

HAGGBLOM

Nature walks and scavenger hunts: Take advantage of the weather by going on nature walks with your little explorers. Create a scavenger hunt checklist that can including items like speci c-colored owers, chirping birds, colorful butter ies and budding trees. Encourage your children to observe and appreciate

Peter Richard Haggblom

December 25, 1934 - April 23, 2024

Peter Richard Haggblom, 89, of Arvada, CO, died peacefully at Bonaventure Senior Living, ornton, CO, from renal failure on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Peter was born December 25, 1934, in New York City, NY, the third oldest child of John and Lydia Haggblom. Peter is survived by: Daughter, Maureen Haggblom (Darrin Lawless), of Eagle River, AK; daughter, Christine Alfonso (James), of Chadron, NE; daughter, Lisa Haggblom, of Willamina, OR; granddaughter, Kathryn Alfonso, of Gainesville, FL; grandson, Aidan Alfonso, of Spokane, WA; grandson, Owen Alfonso, of Tempe, AZ; sister-in-law, Barbara Haggblom, of Louisville, KY; nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Gilbert Haggblom, Gertrude Johannesson, and Conrad Haggblom, niece Lynn Johanneson, and wife, Mary Haggblom.

Mary married in 1957, and moved from New York to Colorado in 1972. Peter worked as a ramp serviceman for United Air Lines from 1956-1993. He was a member of the IAMAW Local Lodge 1886 and Wilmore-Richter American Legion Post 161 in Arvada, serving as Chaplain and on the All Veterans Honor Guard.

Peter’s hobbies were snow and water skiing, camping, shing, hiking, boating, photography, reading, cooking, baking, travelling, DIY projects, and storytelling. He believed higher education was paramount to his daughters’ success in life, encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams, and above all else, have peace of mind.

Peter earned his GED in the Navy, where his most signi cant duty assignment was Patrol Squadron 49, followed by the USS Midway during the Korean War. He and

Mortuary services provided by Archdiocese of Denver: Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado. Burial is May 09, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 4400 West Kenyon Ave., Denver. Reception follows at 4:00 pm at Wilmore-Richter American Legion Post 161, 6230 W. 60th Ave, Arvada.

A simulated representation of Gold Mall created by architectural software engineer Josh Goldstein. This image is similar to what viewers see when they participate in his simulation of Cinderella City.

PHOTO ON PREVIOUS PAGE: People walking around the Gold Mall in Cinderella City in the early 1970s. The Gold Mall was one of five sub malls that made up the vast structure of Cinderella City.

COURTESY OF ENGLEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY

COURTESY OF JOSH GOLDSTEIN

SPRINGTIME

the natural world around them. e older kiddos will appreciate more challenging checklists (i.e. get even more speci c, such as using scienti c names, etc.)

Gardening together:

Spring is synonymous with new growth, making it the perfect time to start a family garden. Whether you have a spacious backyard or just a few pots on a balcony, involve your children with planting owers, herbs or vegetables. It’s not only a fun activity, but it also teaches them valuable lessons about responsibility and the cycle of life. Check out our blog post on container gardening 101 at tulabalanced.com and learn how easy it is to get started — even if your thumb is less than green.

Spring cleaning and donation drive:

Channel the spirit of renewal by decluttering your home as a family. Get everyone involved in tidying up bedrooms, sorting through clothes and organizing toys. Make it a meaningful experience by emphasizing the importance of donating gently-used items to those in need. is not only clears space, but also instills empathy and generosity in children. And if you need guidance on organizing your newly decluttered space, TULA is always here for that.

Outdoor movie nights:

Set up a cozy outdoor movie theater in your backyard. Hang a white sheet, string some fairy lights, gather blankets, cushions for seating and add an inexpensive mini projector to help bring the magic of movie night to life. And don’t forget treats, which will be far more a ordable than an actual theater — win-win! Choose

ST. JOANOF ARC CATHOLICCHURCH

Proclaiming Christ from the Mountains to the Plains

www.StJoanArvada.org

12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232

Daily Masses: 8:30am, Mon-Sat

Confessions: 8am Tue-Fri; 7:30am & 4:00pm Sat

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm

Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm

“Find Connection…Discover Faith” All Are Welcome

Sunday Worship 10:00AM

Green Mountain Presbyterian Church 12900 W Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228 303-985-8733 www.gmpc.net

family-friendly movies and snuggle up under the stars for a magical, memorable experience. Just be sure to turn o the sprinklers — this tip comes from something we might know from experience. Ooops!

Advertise Your Place of Worship

We meet in person with extraordinary live music on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 10:30a.m. to noon at:

Activity Options, 7401 W. 59th Ave., Arvada, 80003.

All other Sunday meetings are on zoom from 10:30a.m. to noon.

Please phone: 720-576-9193, or email: livingwaterspiritualcommunity@gmail.com

Our website is: www.livingwaterunity.org

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email

eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

WANDSCHNEIDER

We four siblings gathered for a week in the sunny Southern California backyard and emptied the house. Dad sat in his captain’s chair and laid down the rules: if you brought it into the house — sculpture from Africa, old sports equipment — you took it away. Or traded with a sibling. One table was set up for stu to go to Dad’s best friend and another for a yard sale, and o we went to sort through the remaining items.

When it came to Dad’s ne collection of old cameras, they went to brother Phil, in Dad’s estimation the only one of us who knew how to take a decent photo. e tools were split between sister Mary and me: “You both at least know the di erence between an end wrench and a crescent.”

Dad said that he had seen families argue and split over parental leavings, and he wanted no part of that. So on we went, sorting through grandma’s rag rugs, old diplomas, a collection of bellbottom pants and lots of keepsakes, all the while drinking beer and retelling old stories.

We cried some as we set Dad up with a few things for the assisted living place, then left for our own homes. I got Dad’s last Ford — his cars were always Fords — as he gured my family needed a good second car more than did the others.

Visit a farm or petting zoo: Springtime is baby animal season, making it an ideal time to visit a local farm or petting zoo. Children will delight in interacting with adorable lambs, chicks and bunnies. It’s not only entertaining but also educational, o ering insights into farm life.

Spring is a time of rejuvenation and renewal. Celebrate by spending quality time with your favorite people, whether you’re soaking up the sunshine, getting your hands dirty in the garden or cuddling up for a movie night, embrace the shift and create core memories together that will transcend the seasons.

Megan Trask and Cody Galloway are Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced.com.

Rainy day crafts and baking: Spring showers are inevitable, but they provide the perfect opportunity for indoor creativity. Stock up on craft supplies and baking ingredients for days when the weather keeps you indoors. From painting ower pots to baking spring-themed treats like butter y cookies or ower cupcakes, there are endless ways to unleash your family’s artistic side. Or, if your kiddos are anything like mine, worm hunts are all the rage. So put on your rain boots and count how many worms you can nd (my kids like to ‘save’ them from the pavement puddles, with gentle handling of course). And as a bonus, you can relocate them to your garden beds.

It was a wonderful week. I don’t have plans for a summit, but I am looking around the house and thinking about what child or grandchild might want the things I have held onto, such as carpets from Turkey, artwork by Northwest artist friends, cast iron cookware and so many books.  Books written and signed by Ivan Doig and Ursula LeGuin — they can go to libraries now. And I smile thinking about taking my best Turkish carpet to a granddaughter’s rst house.

Last week, Nez Perce artist Carla Timentwa brought a ne collection of beadwork, woven basket hats and shell dresses to the Josephy Center in the town of Joseph, where I work. She said she’d ignored her grandmother’s teachings as a child, but on becoming a grandmother herself, took up the arts and began making things to give away: hats for granddaughters who serve food in the Longhouse, a ne beaded vest for her husband, dresses for young women to wear at naming and mourning ceremonies.

It’s important, Carla said, to take care of others as they come into the world, as they grow and as they leave. It’s a good lesson — giving is always more important than storing stu away.

Rich Wandschneider is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He feels lighter in Joseph, Oregon.

FROM PAGE 14

Thu 5/16

Live @ The Rose - Climbing Film Tour

@ 6pm / $25

Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden. information@buf falorose.net

Museum of Light @ 7pm

Seventh Circle Music Collective, 2935 W 7th Ave, Denver

Geller @ 8pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Fri 5/17

Live @ The Rose - Dotsero

@ 6:30pm / $28

Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden. information@buffalorose.net

Tomato Soup @ 7pm

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Brianna Straut @ 7pm

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Shrek Rave @ 9pm

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver

Sat 5/18

Etana live in Denver @ 5pm

Mon 5/20

Post Pro�t @ 7pm

Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Oxymorrons @ 7pm / $18

Moon Room at Summit, Denver

The Blank Tapes @ 7:30pm

Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

Rhododendron @ 6pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

HAWD HITTA @ 8pm

Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Sun 5/19

City Park Public Art Tour @ 10am

Presented by Denver Arts & Venues, Lo‐cation Varies for Public Art Tours, Denver

Pete Davidson @ 7pm

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm, Den‐ver

Eric Golden @ 7pm

Little Bear Live, 28075 CO-74, Evergreen

Palehorse @ 8pm

Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Den‐ver

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Mariah The Scientist @ 8pm

Ogden Theatre, 935 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Tue 5/21

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver

Novelists @ 6pm

Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Mr BIG @ 8pm

The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver

Victim of Fire @ 7pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Bryson Tiller @ 8pm

Mission Ballroom, Denver

Hans Condor @ 8pm

Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Den‐ver

Wed 5/22 Calendar

Our newsroom wants to know what matters to you this election year

BY MEGAN VERLEE AND CCM STAFF

One month ago, newsrooms across the state, including ours, launched an ambitious project: invite the people of Colorado to tell us what they want politicians to talk about in this election, and use their answers to help guide the stories we tell.

So far, more than 3,100 people from around the state have responded to that call and lled out the Voter Voices survey. About 100 of the respondents are readers of Colorado Community Media’s two dozen metro area newspapers.

What should candidates for public o ce focus on this year?

“ eir integrity, work ethic, and vision for our country or the entity they will be representing,” said Mindy Mohr, a reader from Arvada. Mohr listed “democracy and good government” as a top concern, with abortion and the economy/cost of living as important issues as well. e Coloradans who lled out our survey so far make it clear they want politicians to discuss issues like the environment, housing a ordability, immigration, health care and education.

In Walsh, on the southeastern plains, a shortage of health care workers is a driving concern for Rita Hetrick. She runs the long-term care

facility in the town of roughly 540 people. Instead of drawing on a local workforce, she relies on pricey sta ng agencies. “We don’t have a stream of cash that’s just available when you’re a small, rural facility.”

Hetrick told Voter Voices that state and federal regulations exacerbate the problem and it’s something she wants to see politicians tackle.

Many have also written about their concerns for our democracy itself.

“I want candidates to discuss wholesale reform of our country’s and Colorado’s constitution,” wrote Juan Manuel Ramirez Anzures of Denver. “We need to overhaul them to incorporate reforms like more seats, instant-runo elections, robust publicly nanced elections, and proportional representation.”

We’re also asking how much condence people have in elections, both how they are conducted in Colorado, and around the country. e people responding so far are telling us they have great faith in our state’s election system, but a lot more doubt about whether the election will be conducted fairly nationwide.

e Voter Voices survey is being conducted by 60 newsrooms statewide from Fort Collins to Pueblo, Salida and Alamosa and from Sterling and Kiowa to Grand Junction, Durango and Nucla.

As Regan Tuttle, owner and editor of the San Miguel Basin Forum, put it: “My community is very remote and rural. ey tend to feel that nobody listens. I felt the survey would give them a chance to speak and feel heard …”

e project is led by the nonpro t Colorado News Collaborative (COLab) and CPR.

e survey will remain open through this year’s election campaigning, as newsrooms continue to record their communities’ priorities and present what we learn to our readers and listeners.

e goal is not only to respond to what Coloradans statewide and locally say matters to them in our election reporting, but also to challenge candidates to respond directly to voter priorities and concerns.

We invite you not just to ll out the Voter Voices survey, but also to pass it on; share the link with others you know whose opinions we should hear. Colorado Community Media and its two dozen newspapers across the Denver are participating.

You can take the survey at: https://modules.wearehearken. com/cpr/embed/11600/share

A new security state-of-the-art technology used on Weld County paper ballots for upcoming elections. FILE PHOTO

Community remembers crime victims during 31st annual Courage Walk

BY JO DAVIS

JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e 31st Annual Courage Walk was not detoured by the snowy Saturday that Je erson County experienced on April 27. e actual “walk” part of the event did not take place. However, the ceremony hap-

COURTESY OF JCSO

pened as planned, in the atrium of the Je erson County Courthouse and Administration Building. As it snowed outside, the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce and victims advocates from the First Judicial Court came together to honor crime victims. April 21-27 was National Crime Victims Rights Week.

MEETING

“Any other programming for this year would be a moot point,” Gard continued. “We must loudly and forcefully defend and protect the gold standard elections in Colorado in Jeffco.”

4. Je co Clerk and Recorder Amanda Gonzalez testified in the Colorado legislature against “vexatious requester” laws.

Gonzalez gave the keynote speech at the LWV meeting. During the speech, she shared a few legislative issues that her o ce has been working on.

For example, HB-24-1296 Modications to Colorado Open Records Act is a law meant to “lessen the burdens of responding to records requests for custodians of records under the “Colorado Open Records Act”, according to the Colorado General Assembly website. Gonzalez went to the legislature to testify against the act.

“We are your government and those of your records,” Gonzalez explained to the league. “And yes, does it take time to pull them? Sure, it does. at’s OK. I really believe in transparent government. I think you should have access to all that you

don’t think that we should get in your way.”

e act has been changed to remove language that Gonzalez said would impede the transparency of her o ce.

5. Gonzalez also talked about her desire to spread the news about voting rights to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Coloradans.

“I ran for o ce because I want to make sure that every eligible voter votes and has their ballot accurately counted. Which is why I’m working really hard on Senate Bill 72,” Gonzalez said. SB24-072 Voting for Conned Eligible Electors would allow people in jail on misdemeanors or awaiting trial the means to exercise their right to vote.

“Right now, the only time that you lose your right to vote, because of involvement with the criminal justice system, is if you are currently serving a term of con nement for a felony conviction. at’s it,” she explained. ese bills are slated to be considered by the Colorado Legislature before the current session ends.

After Gonzalez’s speech, Manthey reiterated the need to add more league members to their ranks. Membership is open to anyone in Je erson County. For more information on the League of Women Voters of Je erson County and to join, visit LWVJe co. org.

FROM PAGE 9

Amanda Gonzalez, Je erson County Clerk and Recorder gave the keynote speech at the meeting. She updated the league on e orts her o ce has made to safeguard the integrity of voting in Je co.

PHOTOS BY JO DAVIS

Two Denver publications join Colorado Community Media

BY CCM STAFF

Colorado Community Media –made up of 23 publications serving cities and towns in the Denver metro area – is expanding.

e Denver North Star and the G.E.S. Gazette, established in 2019 and 2021 as free monthly publications and digital products, are joining the portfolio. e National Trust for Local News, Colorado Community Media’s parent company, completed the acquisition of those titles on May 1.

e monthly North Star is Denver’s largest neighborhood publication, and the G.E.S. Gazette, which transitioned to digital-only earlier this year, is a bilingual community publication serving the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods.

ey are in close geographic proximity to other publications operated by CCM, including the Washington Park Pro le and Life on Capitol Hill.  e publications were owned and operated by David Sabados and his wife, Emma Donahue, and were founded in response to a lack of community media in North Denver, Sabados said. He told the Colorado Community Media sta during a meeting that when they began looking for a buyer for the publications about a year ago, CCM immediately seemed like the right t.

“We took a long look at Denver’s and the state’s media landscape of hyperlocal publications and ended up where we started: when we thought about who we trusted to keep the papers’ community feel and ensure their long-term viabil-

ity, we knew they would be in good hands at CCM,” he said.

Sabados and Donahue will serve as advisers to aid in the transition.

Editor Kathryn White and others involved with the North Star and Gazette also will continue working with the CCM operation.

“I’ve long been a fan of the Denver North Star and the G.E.S. Gazette, and what David and his team have done for that community,” Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley said. “I’m thrilled to take the baton and do what I can to make those publications even stronger.”

e plan is to soon merge the websites for the North Star and Gazette into Colorado Community Media’s site, which serves as the home for all of CCM’s two dozen titles – including the Arvada Press, Golden

Transcript, Parker Chronicle and Littleton Independent, among others.

e acquisition of the G.E.S. Gazette is Colorado Community Media’s second publication serving Spanish-speaking audiences. CCM launched its rst bilingual news product in January – La Ciudad, a newsletter in Spanish and English that primarily serves Commerce City. According to the Pew Research Center, 21% of the nation’s 65 million Hispanic adults get their news in Spanish.

e National Trust for Local News, a nonpro t dedicated to acquiring, transforming and conserving local newspapers, bought Colorado Community Media in 2021. In fact, May 1 also was the three-year anniversary of that acquisition.

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — It took a week to complete, but the long wait was worth it for Ralston Valley’s girls soccer team.

e Mustangs defeated Arvada West 5-0 on Friday at the North Area Athletic Complex. Ralston Valley (12-2-1, 7-0 in Class 5A Je co League) nished o an undefeated conference mark along with winning its rst girls soccer league title since 2013.

“It was 100 percent,” Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood said after her team was presented the league championship plaque by Ralston Valley principal Mica Buenning. “ is group of girls bought in from the beginning. It has been so fun to watch them do what they do.”

e cross-town rivalry played less than 10 minutes on April 26 at the NAAC before lightning postponed the game. e Wildcats and Mustangs returned seven days later to nish the regular-season and 5A Jeffco  nale.

“I was excited. We just wanted to nish this game,” Ralston Valley senior goalie Margot Mulhern said after the Mustangs’ 8th shutout win of the season. “We came out a little tired in the last game (April 26), but we came out today with a lot of re and motivation. We really wanted to win this game.”

Ralston Valley o cially clinched the league title May 1 at Lakewood Memorial with a 5-0 shutout victory over Lakewood, but nishing the regular season in style was important.

“We did come ready to play. It was nice to not have that pressure,” Morwood said about the Mustangs already clinching the league title earlier in the week. “Today they just had to come out and play.”

e leading goal scorer in 5A — Ralston Valley junior Raleigh Greason — came ready to play and showed why she is one of the top players in the state with a hat-trick.  Greason bent in a corner kick into the goal in the 15th minute to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later she had a nifty ick past

SPORTS

Ralston Valley girls soccer completes clean sweep in 5A Je co

Ralston Valley won the Class 5A Je co League title for the first time in 10 years. The Mustangs completed a 7-0 conference record with a dominating 5-0

Arvada West senior goalie Isabelle Lalouetteto put Ralston Valley up 2-0 at halftime.

“I knew I had the goalie behind me and a player on me,” Greason said. “Sammi (Madden) hit it and I was in the perfect spot to hit it and get it right over her (goalie). at was my plan.”

e Texas Tech University-commit has ve hat-tricks on the season for a 5A leading 29 goals.

“She is just unreal,” Morwood said of Greason. “She is so talented and a great leader. She is something.”

Ralston Valley freshman Santana Sabus got into the scoring action with her 13th goal of the season in the 46th minute. Greason completed her 3-goal performance with a hard shot in the 50th minute to give the Mustangs a commanding 4-0 lead.

“I know we’ll get a couple more the next couple of weeks,” Greason said of being one goal short of 30. “It’s a goal of mine to just keep scoring and help my team score goals. Twentynine (goals) is good for me, but not enough. I want to keep it going.”

Ralston Valley freshman Lauren Sabus scored in the nal minute for the Mustangs to make it a 5-0 victory.

Ralston Valley was No. 6 in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index before the 9th straight victory of the Mustangs to end the regular season. A top-8 seed for the 5A state tournament would potentially give the Mustangs rst- and second-round home playo games at NAAC next week.

“It’s great. ey aren’t done playing here (at NAAC) and I’m not done watching them play here,” Morwood said. “Hopefully we get two and maybe be on the side of the bracket where we get a third.”

NAAC will host two of the four quarter nals scheduled for May 13.

e 32-team state bracket will be released Sunday, May 5.

“ at’s a big thing for us to play home games here. We have such a great community,” Greason said.

“ is winning steak is a big thing for us. Winning this league undefeated is something we haven’t done since 2013. It was a big goal that we got done, now we have more going into playo s.”

A-West (8-6-1, 4-3) was No. 24 in the seeding ranking before the loss.

e Wildcats were slated to be on the road for the rst round that was scheduled for May 8.

Ralston Valley juniors Raleigh Greason, left, and Holly Engelking celebrate the first of three goals by Greason on May 3 at the North Area Athletic Complex. Greason finished the regular season as the Class 5A leading goal scorer with 29 tallies. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to ColoradoPreps.com and CHSAANow.com.

victory over rival Arvada West on Friday, May 3, at the North Area Athletic Complex.

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Record throws by Lafore and Strickland at Je co League championships

LAKEWOOD —  ere was denitely some extra interest during the boys shot put and discus events at the Class 5A/4A Je co League track and eld championships last week at Je co Stadium.

Chat eld senior Charlie Lafore broke the 5A boys shot put league record of Jim Banich (Arvada High School) that had stood since 1982. Lafore’s nal throw on Wednesday, May 1, measured 65-feet, 4.25 inches. e old record was 63-8.5.

“It felt great to break the record,” Lafore said. “It’s really an accumulation of hard work.”

Banich also has the 5A boys state meet record in the shot put. His throw of 66-03.25 was also the allclassi cation state meet record since 1982 until Buena Vista’s Mason Finley broke it in 2009 with a throw of 67-10.25.

“ e rst ve throws on Wednesday things really weren’t connecting,” Lafore admitted. “My fth throw wasn’t perfect, but it went further. I knew I was on to something. Going into my sixth throw I knew what I needed to do, I just needed to do it better.”

Also on May 1, Golden senior Montrey Strickland topped his own league record set last year in the 4A boys shot put. Strickland’s throw of 61-05.5 shattered his own record of 53-8.5.

e two seniors weren’t done putting on a show during the two-day meet. Lafore was going after the 5A boys discus league record of 1954 set by Lee Kunz in 1975. While the Kansas State University-bound thrower came up short with his best throw of 186, it was still better than 50-feet over the second-place nisher in the event.

“I wasn’t super happy with how today went,” Lafore said Saturday after coming up short of Kunz’s record in the discus.

Strickland nished up the historic meet with setting the boys 4A discus record with his best throw of 161-3. e old mark was held by Eric Rivera-Parker of 159-8 set back in 2012.

“I was kind of struggling to nd my rhythm,” Strickland admitted, despite his record-setting throw of over 160-feet in the discus Saturday. “I was kind of throwing at. I didn’t feel right today, but I was happy with the outcome.”

While Strickland will be looking for his rst state title during the state meet back at Je co Stadium in a few weeks — he took 4th in the 4A shot put and 5th in the discus last season — Lafore will be a heavy favorite to pull o another state double.

“Going into this year I’ve only gotten better,” Lafore said as he will attempt to defending both his 5A shot put and discus state championships during the state meet May 16-18 at Je co Stadium. “My competition has only gotten better too. Hopefully we can do the same thing.”

Lafore said since he started throwing four years ago his goal has been to throw at the college level and possibility make a run at the Olympics in the future. With many eyes watching and high expectations is something Lafore welcomes.

“I’m getting to the point in my career where pressure, adrenaline and the jitteriness turns into extra distance,” Lafore said. “If I can utilize that, be a good technician and a good competitor then I’m very excited for state. I think I can do very well.”

Strickland, who will play football at the University of Northern Colorado next school year, believes if he puts it all together at state he could have a shot at the 4A state meet record of 192-6.

“I wanted to throw in the 190s. I’ve been doing that in practice,” Strickland said. “It’s a process.”

If Strickland equals his shot put at league, that mark would break the 4A record of 60-04.75.

“I de ntely want to perfect my technique in the shot and disc,” Strickland said of heading to state. “I know what I’m capable of. I just need to do it in a meet.”

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to ColoradoPreps.com and CHSAANow.com.

Chatfield senior Charlie Lafore will attempt to defend his Class 5A shot put and discus titles at the track and field state championships May 16-18 at Je co Stadium. Lafore broke the 5A shot put record at the Je co League championships on May 1. The previous record stood since 1982.

Golden senior Montrey Strickland holds the Class 4A Je co League championship records in the boys shot put and discus. He will be going after his first state championship next week — May 16-18 — at Je co Stadium. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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Volunteers needed to drive cancer treatment patients

Road to Recovery program getscancer patients to their treatments without delay

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Jared Phillips thinks one of the hardest parts about ghting cancer is fretting over whether someone will show up to give him a ride to his treatment. Phillips, who is battling bladder cancer, knows he cannot miss one day of his chemotherapy because it would dramatically cut his chances of surviving the disease. “I would peer out from behind my window shades and hope that the cab or Uber will show up on time,” Phillips said. “If they didn’t…. well…I would be in big trouble. at just added to my anxiety.”’ en, earlier this year, along came the genial Carol Rose, a veteran of the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. Rose and other volunteers provide free rides to treatment for cancer patients who can’t otherwise get to treatment.

“It is something I’ve done for a while and I just feel it’s my way of helping out,” Rose said. “I just wanted to lend a hand. And I like driving the patients and their families, getting to know them. And lots like to tell me their stories.”

Phillips and his wife Jennifer Barnes got connected with Rose through Tammy White Uecker, an RN, and General Cancer Nurse Navigator with SCL Health Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge. It’s there that Phillips gets his chemo treatments but not before he relaxes a bit in the back seat of Rose’s SUV

their schedule availability based on what works for them, according to the American Cancer Society. Once a volunteer’s schedule is set, drivers can accept ride requests from people in their community who need help getting to appointments.

Nationwide, in 2023, the program provided more than 47,000 rides to treatment, according to the American Cancer Society. In Colorado, 1,400 rides were given last year.

Currently, there are 137 active drivers in the state, according to the cancer society.

But there is a shortage of drivers in Colorado, especially in the north metro area and in the state’s rural areas, said Sara Walla, regional director of regional integrated marketing at the American Cancer So-

“We need more volunteers so we can help more cancer patients,” Walla said. “Unfortunately, we can’t provide rides to everyone who asks for them. We need more volunteers to change that.”

while enroute to the hospital.

“We don’t have that stress that I might miss a session,” Phillips said. Rose, Barnes added, has become a friend they can rely on for emotional support as well.

“We have never been late, which is such a relief,” Barnes said. “She (Rose) has been a God send.”

Phillips said he is disabled due to mental health issues that prevents him from getting out of his apartment. e couple’s car was also destroyed in a re making them dependent on Rose and her vehicle.

e Road to Recovery program is designed for patients just like Phil-

lips, said Uecker. “We have patients who don’t have access to transportation or are homeless, but they can’t miss their treatments,” Uecker said. “ e number one obstacle to getting cancer treatment is access to transportation. Even the best treatment can’t work if a patient can’t get there.”

is program helps alleviate their anxiety and calms them down so they can concentrate on their recovery, she said. “My rule is to empower the patients. is program helps them do that.”

Ride scheduling is coordinated online, and volunteers can share

Rose, 71, said she has learned a lot from quietly talking to patients while she drives them to their appointments. “ ey handle what’s going on with them di erently and I appreciate that. I don’t press them, and if they want to talk, I am happy to have a conversation.”

One patient especially shook Rose. “She was young and well made up and she asked me out of the blue ‘Does it look like I am dying?’ “

“I didn’t really know what to say, so I didn’t say much,” Rose said. “ at’s all you can do sometimes. Is just listen.”

For more information go to: https://www.cancer.org/supportprograms-and-services/road-torecovery.html

General Cancer Nurse Navigator Tammy White Uecker (left), Jennifer Barnes, cancer patient Jared Phillips and Carol Rose are members of the Road to Recovery program.

PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY

KEEP THE HEAT IN AND THE COLD AIR OUT!